Drafting instrument



June 25, 1963 p, VAN DYKE 3,094,784

DRAFTING INSTRUMENTv Filed Nov. 12, 1 958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

k Genevievellvon Dyke,

l2 uvvmrom ATTORNEY.

Jim 25, 1963 Filed Nov. 12, 1958 G. D; VAN DYKE DRAFTING INSTRUMENT 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Genev ieve D.Von Dy ke,

uvmvroa TTO/P/VEY.

United States Patent 3,094,784 DRAFTING INSTRUMENT Genevieve D. VanDyke, Van Nuys, Calif., assignor of one-half to Roy A. Spencer, Jr.,Woodland Hills, Calif. Filed Nov. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 773,360 4 Claims.(Cl. 33-26) This invention relates to drafting instruments and moreparticularly to drafting instruments having universal application intheir use.

It has long been known in the prior art that a draftsman must acquireand maintain a large number of drafting instruments in order to properlyperform his job. When a draftsman is required to change from the drawingof straight lines to the drawing of circles or the like,

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extreme accuracy in drafting.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a singledrafting instrument which is capable of replacing the presently accepteddrafting instruments in the form of pens and compasses.

It is a further object of the present invention ,to provide a universaldrafting instrument which is simple to he must change from a ruling pento a compass. Furthermore, a different instrument must be used whenmaking a pencil drawing as opposed to an inked drawing. The changingfrom one instrument to another which is required in the use of theconventional drafting instruments consumes a large amount of time and,as well, requires, particularly when inking, the cleaning of eachinstrument prior to the use of the next succeeding one. In addition tothese time consuming steps when using :the conventional draftinginstruments, additional time is consumed in keeping the instrumentssharp and otherwise in proper condition for usage.

When utilizing the presently accepted drafting instruments, it is wellknown that the width of the line being constructed may vary dependingupon the pressure being applied by the draftsman upon the pen and theangle at which the pen is being held. These variations, in turn, causeunwanted errors to creep into drawings which are required to beaccurate.

\As a result of the foregoing, there has in the past been many attemptsto produce a drafitng instrument which would be utilized in order toaleviate the necessity of using the standard drafting instruments.

The drafting instruments which have been produced in the past have,however, as a rule, been limited to instruments designed for specialapplications. For the most part, such instruments have been quitecomplex in structure and, because of the complexity, require preciseadjustments before each use. These precise adjustments, in turn, consumea large amount of the time thus, in effect, nullifying some of thereasons for their original design. Where attempts have been made toconstruct drafting instruments having relatively universal applicationin the art of drafting, the instruments have, as a rule, beenconstructed with many movable parts. The large number of movable partshas caused the instruments to be extremely expensive to manufacture andhas limited the accuracy of the drawings made by them.

Those drafting instruments which have been constructed and which haveproven relatively successful have, for the most part, been aprotractor-compass combination which could be utilized for drawingstraight lines or, in a limited way, circles or segments thereof. Theseinstruments, however, have proven to be somewhat unwieldy in their usageand have found little favor with the practitioners in the art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adrafting instrument having relatively universal application.

It is another object of the present invention to provide manufacture andwhich is extremely rugged and durable. A drafting instrument inaccordance with the present invention includes a plate member havingsupport members and a marking implement aflixed thereto.

Other and more specific objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which are presented by way ofexample only and in which like or similar parts are represented bythesame numeral throughout, and in which: I

FIG. 1 is a side view of the basic element of the universal draftinginstrument of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top viewof the drafting instrument as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the drafting instrument as illustrated inFIG. 1; a

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the drafting instrument taken aboutlines 44 as shown in FIG. 2;

-FIG. 4A is a fragmentary view of an alternative arrangement of thedrafting instrument of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate additional units which may be attached to thedrafting instrument as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4; and

FIG. 7 illustrates additional usages to which the drafting instrument ofthe present invention may be put when used in conjunction with theelements of FIGS. 5 and 6.

Referring now to the drawingsvand more particularly to FIGS. 1 through'4thereof, the basic element of the universal drafting instrument .of-thepresent invention is illustrated.

There is shown a plate member 11 having support members 12 afiixedthereto. Inthe presently preferred embodiment of the present invention,three support members are illustrated as being an integral part of theplate member 11. It is to be expressly understood that the supportmembers may be' removable or adjustable if desired, and they may vary innumber depending upon their size and configuration.

A handle or knob 13 is also aflixed to plate member 11. The knob 13 maybe removed if desired when the drafting instrument is being utilizeddrawing straight lines or for use with a T square, triangles and thelike. However, when the drafting instrument isbeing utilized toconstruct circles or segments thereof, the knob 13 is, in some cases,useful. An adjusting element 14 is also provided. The use of theadjusting element 14 will be more fully explained below.

A protrusion 15 is provided as an integral part of plate member 11.Protrusion 15 is utilized to hold a marking implement as will be morefully explained below. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the protrusion 15has provided therein an opening 17. Opening 17 is utilized to accept amarking implement.

A slot 18, as illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, is provided inplate member 11 and extends through the thickness dimension thereof. Asillustrated, the slot 18 extends substantially along the length of platemember 11. The application of slot 18 to the utilization of the draftinginstrument of this invention will be more fully explained thereinafter.

A recess 16 is provided in plate member 11 so that an extension oradaptor may be attached to the plate member 11 as will be discussedbelow.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, marking implement 21 isillustrated in the form of an inking pen which may be utilized in thepreferred embodiment of the drafting instrument of the presentinvention. Although an inking pen is shown, it should be understood thatit may be replaced with a pencil at will. As is illustrated, a reservoir22 is placed within opening 17 and is adjusted by raising or lowering itto such a position that the tip 23 of the reservoir 22 is just above aplane 25 taken by connecting the ends of support members 12. Plane 25may be viewed as :a sheet of drawing paper. A pen 24 is then placedwithin reservoir 22 so that it extends through the reservoir and willcontact the surface of the drawing paper.

It is well known in the drafting art that the surface texture of thedrawing paper which is to be utilized varies substantially from type totype. Since the pen 24, which is utilized with the drafting instrumentof the present invention, has a relatively fine point, it will from timeto time become necessary to adjust the amount of pressure which beexerted by pen 24 upon the paper. If the paper is relatively coarse, agreater amount of pressure should be exerted by pen 24 upon it. As finerpaper is used, less pressure will be required in order to obtain acontinuous marking.

Adjusting element 14 is provided in order to allow this adjustment. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, adjusting element 14 may be moved up or down insuch a manner that the tip 26 thereof will contact the drawing paper 25.A slight turn of the adjusting element 14 will, very slightly, raise thetip of the pen 24 so that it exerts less pressure on the drawing paper25. Adjusting element 14' may be machined in such a manner that it willbe substantially self-locking or, if desired, a locking nut 27 may beprovided thereon to maintain adjusting element 14 fixed rigidly in placeafter it is set in the desired position.

In actual operation, the universal drafting instrument, as illustratedin FIG. 1 through 4, may be used to construct straight lines or otherfigures in the same manner as any standard ruling pen.

If accurate straight lines are to be constructed by the draftinginstrument of the present invention, it may be used by placing supportmembers 12 against a straight edge, such as a T-square, and thenadjusting the drafting instrument and the T-square in such a manner thatthe tip of pen 24 rests upon the .line to be constructed. The draftinginstrument may then be drawn along the edge of the straight edge bykeeping the support members 12 gently but firmly against the straightedge.

No pressure need be applied to plate member 11 to cause the desired lineto be constructed. The only pressure needed to construct an even line isthat applied by the pen point upon the surface of the paper. If pressureis applied to the plate member 11, it be transmitted to support members12 instead of pen 24 and, therefore, will not alfect the line width.Furthermore, since plate member 11 is evenly supported upon supportmembers 12, the pen point cannot be tilted during use to deleterious lyaffect line width or damage the pen point.

As can be readily seen, since the pen 24 projects pen pendicularly fromplate member 11, the beginning and end portions of any line which isconstructed may be easily and accurately controlled with a minimum ofeffort as compared to the standard drafting instruments.

It should be pointed out that the drafting instrument of the presentinvention may be used for lettering, such as Le Roy lettering or thelike, by merely attaching an extender thereto which is adapted for usewith the standard lettering guide.

During the construction of straight lines or letters, as hereinabovedescribed, the knob 13 may be removed if desired. It has been found,however, in actual practice that knob 13 does not interfere with theusuage of the drafting instrument for lettering or constructing ofstraight lines.

In utilizing the drafting instrument of the present invention forconstructing circles or segments thereof, a pivot member 31 may beinserted in slot 18, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The pivot member 31 ismoved along slot 18 until it is the distance from pen 24 which isdesired as the radius of the circle or segment to be constructed. Thetip of pivot member 31 is then placed upon the center point of thecircle or segment to be constructed and the entire drafting instrumentis pivoted about pivot member 31, thus causing pen 24 to inscribe thecircle or segment thereof.

Pivot member 31 may be constructed so as to be two pieces which arefastened together within slot 18 so as to provide a pointed end whichcontacts the surface of the drawing paper at the desired spot. In thealternative, pivot member 31 may have a spring loaded retractableneedle-like point which is brought into contact with the surface of thedrawing paper by pressing the top of pivot member 31. Other variationsmay be made to pivot member 311 while remaining within the scope of thepresent invention.

In order to provide an accurate measurement of the radius which isdesired, a scale 32 may be inscribed directly upon plate member 11 or,if desired, a groove can be provided about slot 18 into which variousinserts bearing scales may be placed in order to obtain the accuracydesired for any particular job. The scale 32 is calibrated in such amanner that the distance between pen 24 and pivot member 31, and thusthe radius of the circle or segment, may be directly read therefrom.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustratedin FIGS. 1 through 3, the radius of circle which may be obtained isapproximately inch. If an instrument which will inscribe circles havinga smaller radius is desired, the marking implement 21 may, in thealternative, be placed in the corner of the triangle opposite itspresent position. This may be done, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, byproviding an opening 17A in this portion of plate member 11 which willaccept the reservoir 22 and the pen 24. In this manner, circles having aradius of as small as approximately 5 inch may be inscribed. In thepresently preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustratedin FIGS. 1 through 4, circles having a maximum radius of approximately 1and /8 inches may be inscribed. This maximum may, of course, beincreased merely by increasing the dimensions of plate member 11, ifdesired. The drafting instrument, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4,however, will for the most part be capable of inscribing circles of theradius usually desired for most drafting jobs. In some instances,however, it has been found that circles having much larger radii aredesirable. When circles having radii larger than that which is capablewith the drafting instrument, as illustrated in FIGS. '1 through 4, aredesired, extension member or adaptor 41 as shown in FIG. 8 may beutilized as follows. The extension member 41 may be inserted into recess16 of plate member 11. Recess 16 may be machined so that it provides aperfect fit for adaptor 41, such as by a V-shaped portion in each sideof the recess, and thereby holds it rigidly in place, or in thealternative, other provisions may be made for retaining extension member41 rigidly affixed to the plate member 11. This may be accomplished byproviding a screw for holding adaptor 41 afiixed to plate member 11, oralternatively, a snap element may be provided upon adaptor 41 and asocket therefor within recess 16 of plate member 11. Adaptor 41 has apivot member 31A, which may be the same pivot member shown at 31 in FIG.2, which is movable within opening 42 in extension member 41 similar tothe use of pivot member 31 in slot 18.

In operation, extension member 41 is placed within recess 16 of platemember 11 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Pivot member 31A is adjusted alongthe length of extension member 41 until the desired radius of the circleto be inscribed is accomplished. Thereafter, gentle pressure is appliedto pivot member 31 to hold it in place and the entire draftinginstrument is then moved about pivot member 31A to inscribe the circleor segment thereof as desired. As illustrated with respect to slot 18 inplate member 1-1, a scale may be provided along the length of extensionmember 41, as illustrated at 43, such that a direct reading of theradius of the circle to be inscribed may be obtained therefrom.

The extension member 4-1, as illustrated in FIG. 5, may be constructedto have any desired length in order to obtain circles having anydesire-d radius. In the alternative, a series of extension members ofthe general configuration .as shown in FIG. 5 may be constructed to havedifferent lengths so as to accomplish the result of being capable ofinscribing circles of any length.

It has been found desirable in some instances to be able to construct asquare, parallelagram or other foursided figure having opposite parallelsides. By utilizing the additional extension member, as illustrated inFIG. 6, this may be readily accomplished without removing the draftinginstrument of the present invention from the drawing paper. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, a pair of blocks 51 and 52 of substantially thesame dimensions are provided. Block 52 has a recess 53 provided thereinwhich is of such a dimension as to receive the extension memberillustrated in FIG. 5. Recess 53 has the sides thereof tapered as shownat 55 to retain the extension member firmly in place. In thealternative, a keeper or the like may be provided to fit within theextension member slot to retain it in place within recess 53. pin '54 isprovided so that blocks 51 and '52 will be properly aligned when broughttogether. The mating or pivot pin 54 is preferably located at the centerof blocks 51 and 52 and will also act as a pivoting point therefor.Extension member 41, as illustrated in FIG. 5, with pivot mem ber 31Aremoved therefrom, is inserted within recess 53 and held in place by aretaining member 55, as shown in FIG. 7, which fits within opening 42 ofextension member 41.

In actual operation the four-sided figure above referred to may beconstructed as follows. Block 51 is placed against a straight edge 61.Block 52 is rotated upon block 51 and about pivot pin 54 as illustratedby arrow 62 until the desired angle is achieved. This angle will bedetermined by the acute angles of the desired geometric figure to beconstructed. If desired, a protractor may be added as an integral pantof block 51 and a pointer provided on block 52 to enable the draftsmanto read directly the angle the extension member 41 makes with thestraight edge 61. If the figure to be constructed is a square or arectangle having four 90-degree angles, blocks 51 and 52 would not berotated.

The mating surfaces of blocks 51 and 52 are preferably machined to havea relatively smooth finish such as a mirror finish. This will cause thesurface tension between the mating surfaces of the blocks 51 and 52 toretain them in a fixed position until substantial pressure is appliedthereto to cause them to move upon each other and about pivot pin 54.With the blocks, the extension member and the drafting instrumentassembled and placed in an abutting relationship with the straight edge61, as illus- A mating or pivot trated in FIG. 7, the desired four sidedfigure may be constructed as follows. The entire assembly may be movedalong straight edge 61 as illustrated by arrow 63 until the desiredlength of one side of the figure has been obtained. At this point thedrafting instrument and extension member 41 will be moved laterally toblock 52 by causing a-d'aptormember 41 to slide in recess 53 of block52, as illustrated by arrow 64. When the desired length of this side ofthe figure has been achieved, the entire assembly will then be returnedalong straight edge 61 a sufficient distance to equal the opposing sidealready constructed. The drafting instrument and extension member 41will then be returned by sliding extension member 41 in recess 53 ofblock 52 back to the starting point.

There has thus been described a drafting instrument which is exceedinglysimple and rugged in construction, requiring no maintenance, and whichmay be utilized in lieu of the presently accepted drafting instrumentsrecognized in the drafting art at the present time.

What is claimed is:

1. A drafting instrument for constructing straight and arcuate linescomprising: a fiat plate member defining an elongated slot therethroughfor receiving a slidably adjustable pivot member; a plurality of supportmembers atfixed to and extending from one surface of said flat platemember for slidably supporting said drafting iIn strument upon a workpiece, each of said support members being of a length to hold said platemember away from said work piece by an amount sufiicient to permitcontact between two :of said support members and a straight edge duringthe time said drafting instrument is being used to construct straightlines; said one surface defining a recess therein for receiving anelongated extension member; marking means aflilxed to said flat platemember adjacent one end of said elongated slot; and an elongated flatextension member defining a slot therethrough along the length thereofand being disposed within said recess and detachabfly afiixed to saidflat plate member.

2. A drafting instrument in accordance with claim 1 in which said flatplate member is a substantially triangular shaped metallic plateincluding a protrusion formed integrally therewith and extending fromapproximately the center of one side thereof for receiving said markingmeans.

3. A drafting instrument in accordance with claim 2 in which saidelongated slot extends along another side of said triangullar plate andterminates at one end adjacent said protrusion, and said recess extendsinwardly from the remaining side of said triangular plate and termniatesadjacent said protrusion.

4. A drafting instrument for arcuate lines comprising: a flat platemember; a plurality of support members affixed to and extending from onesurface of said fiat plate member for slidably supporting said draftinginstrument upon a work piece, each of said support members being of alength to hold said plate member away from said Work piece by an amountsufiicient to permit contact between two of said support members and astraight edge during the time said drafting instrument is being used toconstruct straight lines; said one surface defining a recess therein forreceiving an elongated extension member; marking means tafiixed to saidflat plate member and extending from said one surface thereof; anelongated fiat extension member defining a slot therethrough along thelength thereof and being disposed withsaid flat plate constructingstraight and in said recess and detachably afiixed to member; first andsecond pivotally connected juxtaposed members, said second memberdefining a recess extending across one surface thereof for receivingsaid extension member, whereby said extension member may be moved withinsaid recess across said members and said fiat plate member may be movedarcuately about said pivotal connection, said first member having astraight edge surface for engagement with a straight edge whereby. saiddrafting instrument can be moved to construct straight lines parallel tosaid straight edge and straight lines angularly displaced from saidstraight edge, the angle of displacement being determined by the arcuateposition of said second member with respect to said first member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8Keufiel Aug. 4, 1936 Burgess Aug. 27, 1940 Cree Oct. 8, 1946 Gordon Mar.23, 1948 Wood Jan. 15, 1957 Johnson et a1. Oct. 29, 1957 Attridge July5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Denmark Nov. 24, 1947

1. A DRAFTING INSTRUMENT FOR CONSTRUCTING STRAIGHT AND ARCUATE LINESCOMPRISING: A FLAT PLATE MEMBER DEFINING AN ELONGATED SLOT THERETHROUGHFOR RECEIVING A SLIDABLY ADJUSTABLE PIVOT MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTMEMBERS AFFIXED TO AND EXTENDING FROM ONE SURFACE OF SAID FLAT PLATEMEMBER FOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTING SAID DRAFTING INSTRUMENT UPON A WORKPIECE, EACH OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING OF A LENGTH TO HOLD SAID PLATEMEMBER AWAY FROM SAID WORK PIECE BY AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PERMITCONTACT BETWEEN TWO OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS AND A STRAIGHT EDGE DURINGTHE TIME SAID DRAFTING INSTRUMENT IS BEING USED TO CONSTRUCT STRAIGHTLINES; SAID ONE SURFACE DEFINING A RECESS THEREIN FOR RECEIVING ANELONGATED EXTENSION MEMBER; MARKING MEANS AFFIXED TO SAID FLAT PLATEMEMBER ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID ELONGATED SLOT; AND AN ELONGATED FLATEXTENSION MEMBER DEFINING A SLOT THERETHROUGH ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOFAND BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESS AND DETACHABLY AFFIXED TO SAIDFLAT PLATE MEMBER.